Delaware was the first of the original 13 states to ratify the U.S. Constitution making it the official first state of the union in 1787. With a population of 783,600, Delaware ranks 45th among all states and ranks 49th in the nation with a total area of 1,982 square miles. At its widest point, Delaware is 35 miles across. Delaware's climate is moderate year round. Average monthly temperatures range from 75° in the summer to 32° in winter.

On the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, Delaware is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay, as well as by the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Delaware's location affords easy access to the major metropolitan areas of the Northeast. Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore are all within a 2-hour drive.

Now that you are moving to Delaware, fascinate your friends and family with lore and information regarding your new state:

State Capital is Dover.

State Motto: Liberty and Independence.

Main industries are agriculture, fishing, and manufacturing.

Eleuthére Irénée du Pont, a French immigrant, built the state's first gunpowder mill on Brandywine Creek near Wilmington in 1802. The Du Pont Company became the largest chemical company in the United States.

The official state beverage is milk.

Delaware has only three counties: Sussex, Kent and New Castle.

State Bird is the Blue Hen chicken.

The University of Delaware is in Newark, which is pronounced New-ARK. New-ERK is in New Jersey.

State Flower is the Peach Blossom.

Delaware is the only state in the US without any national parks.

State Tree is American Holly.

The world's largest frying pan, at 10 feet across, was built in Delmarva, Delaware in 1950.

State Bug is the Lady Bug. State Macroinvertebrate (whatever that may be) is the Stonefly. No other state has declared a state macroinvertebrate.

Largest city is Wilmington.

Henry Heimlich, inventor of the Heimlich Maneuver, was born in Wilmington.

Sussex County is home to the annual Punkin' Chunkin' contest, where people use homemade catapults to throw pumpkins as far as they can.

The Delaware Diamond, located in the constellation of Ursa Major (Great Bear) was designated as Delaware's State Star and is the first star on the International Star Registry ever to be registered to an American State.

Delaware's northern border is curved. It is called the Twelve-Mile Circle. All points along that part of the border are exactly 12 miles from the Old Court House in New Castle. They were marked in 1682. When a line connected the marks, part of a circle resulted.

Delaware does not assess a sales tax on consumers.

Horseshoe crabs may be viewed in large numbers along the Delaware shore in May. They have remained basically the same since the days of the dinosaur.